In 2023, the Akwa Ibom State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) achieved 68 convictions. Mrs. Obot Bassey, the state Commander of the NDLEA, revealed this information while addressing journalists on Tuesday.
During the same period, the command arrested 195 suspects, including 159 males and 36 females, and confiscated drugs weighing 1,267.24kg with a monetary value in the millions.
Mrs. Bassey added that the command provided counseling for approximately 278 suspects, consisting of 263 males and 15 females during the mentioned period.
She said, “For the year 2023 just ended, The Akwa Ibom Command recorded the following achievements; arrested 195 suspects comprising 159 males and 36 females and recorded drug seizures totalling 1, 267. 244kg.
“During the period under review, we secured 68 convictions and all of them are serving jail terms in our custodial centers.
“Compared with the statistics of 2022, it is obvious that the command had a better achievement in 2023.
“With the seizure of 460.344kg of drugs in 2022 and 1, 267.244kg in 2023, there is a 175 per cent increase in the seizures recorded.
“The drug war is not an easy one as drug traffickers change their modus operandi daily to evade arrest, in the same vein, officers are on high alert and their toes giving them close and marked pursuit.
“The implication of the prevalence of these hard drugs in Akwa Ibom state is the spike in criminal activities such as frequent cult clashes, youth unrest, daring armed robbery cases, kidnapping, militancy and the like.”
Bassey added that Akwa Ibom is identified as mostly a consumer transit state with drug dealers striving to litter the streets with illicit drugs, adding that NDLEA would continue to collaborate with sister agencies in the state to fight the drug menace to the barest minimum.
She commended the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, Gov. Umo Eno, and other security agencies for their support to the command and solicited more support in the years ahead to ensure that illicit drugs are eliminated from the society.
